Daily DAX : Day 235 FIXED

 The FIXED function in Power BI's DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) language is used to round a number to a specified number of decimal places and return the result as a text string. It’s particularly useful when you need to control the display format of numerical values in reports, ensuring consistent decimal precision in visuals or calculations.

Syntax

DAX

FIXED(Number, Decimals, [No_Commas])

    Number: The number you want to round and convert to text.

    Decimals: The number of decimal places to round to. Can be positive (round to the right of the decimal) or negative (round to the left).

    No_Commas (optional): A logical value (TRUE/FALSE). If TRUE, the result omits thousand separators (commas). If FALSE or omitted, commas are included.

Return Value

A text string representing the rounded number, formatted with the specified decimal places.

Key Points

    The FIXED function always returns a text data type, not a number, which makes it ideal for formatting numbers in visuals or text-based measures.

    It rounds the number based on standard rounding rules (e.g., 5 or higher rounds up, less than 5 rounds down).

    The No_Commas parameter is useful for scenarios where you need a clean number format for further processing or specific display requirements.

Example Use Cases

    Formatting Numbers in Reports:

    Suppose you have a measure that calculates total sales, and you want to display it with exactly two decimal places in a card visual.

    DAX

    FormattedSales = FIXED([TotalSales], 2, FALSE)

    If [TotalSales] = 1234.5678, the result is "1,234.57".

    Removing Thousand Separators:

    If you need a number without commas for export or compatibility with another system:

    DAX

    CleanNumber = FIXED([TotalSales], 2, TRUE)

    For [TotalSales] = 1234.5678, the result is "1234.57".

    Rounding to Whole Numbers:

    If you want to round a number to the nearest hundred:

    DAX

    RoundedValue = FIXED(123456.78, -2, FALSE)

    The result is "123,500", as it rounds to the nearest hundred.

Practical Scenarios

    Financial Reporting: Use FIXED to ensure currency values are consistently displayed with two decimal places (e.g., $1,234.56).

    Data Export: When exporting data to systems that require specific number formats without thousand separators.

    Visual Consistency: To align number formatting across visuals, especially when combining measures in a single report.

Notes

    Since FIXED returns a text string, it’s not suitable for further numerical calculations unless converted back to a number using a function like VALUE.

    For dynamic formatting based on user preferences, consider using the FORMAT function instead, which offers more flexibility with custom format strings.

    Be cautious with large numbers or extreme decimal places, as FIXED may introduce minor rounding differences due to floating-point precision.

This function is simple but powerful for controlling number presentation in Power BI reports, ensuring clarity and professionalism in data visualization.